NBA: Suns erase 22-point deficit, stun Mavericks in playoff rematch
Damion Lee #10 of the Phoenix Suns reacts after a turnover by the Dallas Mavericks during the second half of the NBA game at Footprint Center on October 19, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. Christian Petersen/Getty Images/AFP
Damion Lee knocked down the game-winning shot with 9.7 seconds left and the Phoenix Suns rallied from a 22-point, third-quarter deficit to notch a 107-105 victory over the visiting Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night in a rematch of last season’s Western Conference semifinals.
Lee hit a 10-foot fallaway jumper over Spencer Dinwiddie to cap an electric Phoenix comeback in the season opener for both teams. Dallas star Luka Doncic missed a 3-point attempt just before time expired.
Devin Booker recorded 28 points and nine assists and Deandre Ayton contributed 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Suns. Cameron Johnson added 15 points, Mikal Bridges had 13 points and 11 rebounds and Lee scored 11 points off the bench.
Doncic had 35 points, nine rebounds and six assists for the Mavericks. Christian Wood added 25 points and eight rebounds in his Dallas debut while Dinwiddie added 15 points.
The Mavericks won the final two games of last season’s semifinals by an average of 30 points to eliminate the Suns, who won an NBA-best 64 games last season.
DAMION LEE WINS IT FOR THE SUNS! #KiaTipOff22 pic.twitter.com/675SPXQjcC
— NBA (@NBA) October 20, 2022
Phoenix took its first lead since the opening quarter when Cameron Payne scored with 3:10 left to give the Suns a 101-100 edge. Lee followed with a 3-pointer, one of two he made during a 11-0 run that gave Phoenix a five-point advantage with 1:38 left.
Doncic scored the next five points, including a three-point play that knotted the score at 105 with 32.8 seconds remaining. Lee then hit the decisive shot.
Reggie Bullock scored 10 points for Dallas, which shot 46.7 percent from the field, including 14 of 35 (40 percent) from 3-point range.
The Suns made 47.1 percent of their shots and were 8 of 22 (36.4 percent) from behind the arc.
Doncic scored the first five points of the third quarter to give the Mavericks a game-high, 22-point lead before Phoenix awoke.
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) shoots the ball against Dallas Mavericks center Christian Wood (35) at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The Suns went on a 31-10 burst and pulled within 77-76 on Payne’s jumper with 1:25 left in the period. Wood scored back-to-back baskets to end the quarter and give Dallas a five-point lead.
Wood scored the first seven points of the final stanza — including two 3-pointers — to give the Mavericks an 88-76 lead with 10:31 remaining.
Johnson scored Phoenix’s first points of the final quarter 26 seconds later before Wood knocked down a short jumper and a 3-pointer to give him 16 consecutive Dallas points. The 3-pointer increased the Mavericks’ lead to 93-78 with 8:31 to go.
The Suns answered with a 16-4 run and pulled within 97-94 on Booker’s basket with 4:49 left.
Lee knocked down a 3-pointer as Phoenix moved within 100-99 with 3:49 to play.
Doncic scored 20 points in the first half to help the Mavericks take a 62-45 edge into the break.
